COMBATING CYBER CRIME IN THE ERA OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE – ANALYZING LEGAL IMPLICATIONS IN THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA, REPUBLIC OF KOSOVO AND THE REPUBLIC OF NORTH MACEDONIA

In the digitalization era in which we now live, individuals can easily communicate with government bodies and fulfill their needs. Unfortunately, the dynamics of digitalization have brought not only benefits but also challenges, one of which is cybercrime, defined as a criminal offense that can be committed through a computer or any other technological device. Within this dynamic, the Republic of Albania, the Republic of North Macedonia, and the Republic of Kosovo have built their protective mechanisms against any form of cyber-attack. Such a mechanism begins with the implementation of legal frameworks and strategic documents that the respective states have undertaken, and then continues with the establishment of responsible institutions for protecting citizens' personal data from any form of cybercrime involving the misuse of personal data. Moreover, the challenges faced by these three Western Balkan states concerning cybersecurity and digital capacity persist, as the risk of illegal intervention remains high due to weak digital infrastructure and inadequate protective mechanisms. In this situation, the respective states in the region are increasingly becoming easy targets for any cyber-attack, primarily originating from outside. In conclusion, what is important is that in order for these three regional states to become more resilient to such attacks, they must build bridges of cooperation and invest in strengthening the infrastructure already established.